Wk 1: Sociology of Death & Dying: An Intro to Thanatology

Sociology

The systematic study of society and social interaction, and social groups

Society

A group of persons forming a single community with some common interests

Culture

The rules, ideas, and beliefs shared with society

Direct Learning

The acquisition of the culture by a person through deliberate instruction by other members of that society, aka formal learning

Indirect Learning

A process by which a person learns the norms of their culture by observation of others in their society; aka informal learning.

Cultural Assimilation

The process by which a person or language and/or culture comes to resemble those of another group

Culture Shock

The feelings of disorientation, uncertainty, fear, experienced when people encounter unfamiliar cultural practices

Diffusion

The process by which a cultural item spreads from group to group or society to society

Subculture

A division or smaller identifiable unit of a culture having unique traits to itself

Thanatology

The study of dying, death and bereavement

Breave

To have something taken by force

What are the 2 Purposes of Sociology in Funeral Service?

1. Funeral rite is a social function

2. Funerals are a cultural universal

Sociology vs. Thanatology

Culture of Living vs. Culture of Dying

What are the Elements of Culture? (Types of norms)

Folkways, Mores, Laws-rules, Norms

Folkways

Social customs; do not call for a strong reaction from society if violated

Mores

Most behaviors; basic & important ideas & acts are related to the treatment of the dead, call for a strong reaction from society if violated

Laws-rules

Action prescribed by an authority able to enforce its will

Norms

A group held a belief about how members should behave in a given context

Taboo

A social prohibition of certain actions; a must-not behavior

Ethnocentrism

The emotional attitude that one's own group is superior to all others

Cultural Relativity

The emotional attitude that all cultures are pertinent (important)

What describes modern Western cultures that avoid the reality of death and dying?

Death-denying society

What are the Four Dimensions of Education about Death, Dying, and Bereavement

Cognitive, Affective, Valuational, Behavorial